LITMIR.BIZ

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erratic manoeuvres to throw the tie fighters aim off. Several thrums through the ship frame denoted that the same number of the fighter pilots had better learn to walk as their side vanes were blasted off. Humph being a peace loving soul had developed the skill at disabling rather than destroying opponents. All shields up including the pulsing red one warning the use of a ‘Firebrand’ shield.

       . . .

      Standing on the bridge of the Sun Destroyer Reynar, Commodore Bengo Rham was complacently watching the processing of the peculiar freighter, when his adjutant commented that the Oxzen was likely the one requested by headquarters.

      “Signal the lieutenant to detain the Oxzen.”

      “Aye, sir,” The adjutant affirmed and spoke into his microphone.

      Barely had he spoken when the peaceful scene changed into a kaleidoscope of beams, rocket flare and flying debris as the scene changed abruptly from serene to chaos with the subject now surrounded by a pulsing red field.

      “Blow his tail off Commander,” Rham ordered the captain of the corvette Doom Bringer. Then Rham watched in dismay as the Doom Bringer's cannon erupted in a flare as the beam touched the target; with an accompanying energy bubble expanding from the freighter. Several fighters had also fired, with them blowing up as a result.

      “What the hell was that?” Rham asked aghast.

      The intelligence officer suggested, “A red field is supposed to indicate a kinetic absorption shield, shooting at it may destroy both vessels. Captains often ignore this or test it with a small laser, as some pirates use the red pulse as a bluff.”

      “Deploy missiles,” Then watched as the target now resembled a hedgehog as it zapped every missile as it approached; simultaneously the target’s tail erupted into a full military thrust as it reversed orientation and outstripped the pursuing Tie Fighters and disappeared into hyperspace back the way it came in a very unfreighter like manner. “Just what sort of ship is that? Capture desirable to investigate operating systems.”

      “Nothing in our records, the transponder was for a small obsolete freighter originating on Grnatz. Should be two kilo-tonne with two sublight drives of moderate thrust. That one now shows the signature of a Corvette with three big drives, two smaller drives, at least, four ion cannon and eight lasers all in action simultaneously,” The I.O reported, “Data now is consistent with a Corvette.”

       . . .

      Back at the Yella Terra; Killa was watching the scene unfold on the screen.

      One Corvette didn’t believe the red field and fired a laser cannon at the Yella, and the ship’s accumulators whined as the Firebrand shield absorbed the energy with the offending Corvette's gun disappeared in a searing flash. Humph immediately bled the excess energy off lighting the firmament with coruscating effect. A couple of Tie Fighters didn’t get the message and joined their comrade.

      “Oh dear, I don’t think we will be getting that invitation to the next Governor’s ball,” Humph said over the intercom.

      The remaining Tie Fighters and Corvettes fired missiles which Humph picked off with his laser cannon. All the while accelerating to hyper jump speed, once at critical distance Humph engaged hyperdrive, and the pursuing force disappeared off the screen.

      “Solo would be impressed, thanks, Humph,” Killa commented and asked his passenger, "Okay there young fellow?

      “Yes, most exciting, does that happen often?” Algertz asked amazed.

      “That was once enough; we can’t use that ID again as all the Imperials will be hot on our trail,” Humph commented as he rejoined them in the cockpit, “It seems they are interested in you?”

      “Perhaps my father left a couple of things out, he is the king of Oxz Sector as well as a head merchant, and being his first born, I am next in line. The Empire is becoming interested in our sector; so Father is worried that I may be a target for hostage taking,” Algertz explained.

      “I remember now, the crew and rescue team held your Great Grandfather in great esteem, I had wondered why they were so generous with the spaceship data,” Humph mused.

      “Yes, you are considered a hero for the whole sector. I never expected actually to meet you,” Algertz marvelled.

      “We have a minor problem in that our data ID gave our real destination. We will have to sneak in,” Humph said pensively, “Can’t deviate too much as that last effort somewhat depleted the fuel reserves. It is going to take a bit longer as we have to coast when in sub-light between jumps.”

      Killa asked, “One thing has been puzzling me, don’t all your people have an x sound in their name.”

      “Just the boys,” Algertz replied with a cheeky grin.

      “Oh, we have a princess among us?” Killa said as he looked askance at her, “Don’t think it will get you out of washing the dishes.”

      “Ha, it didn’t at home either,” She replied with a challenging grin.

      “Her status is why I took such drastic action; I intercepted the radio call which described her fully,” Humph explained, “Otherwise I would have been a little more discrete. Mind you, the firing on us would have been counter productive for hostage taking.”

      “Perhaps throwing their men out the door irritated them and they went into Standard Operating Procedure,” Killa suggested.

      “They were safe enough with the shuttle still connected,” Humph said, “Still until the missiles, we were safe enough as when the shields go down on a regular freighter, they are expected to surrender. They calibrated the laser shot for a standard freighter’s screen whereas ours are full military capital ship standard.”

       . . .

      Back at the Reynar, Rham ordered fuming, “Two Corvettes to shadow on the line for Kessel, not to engage. Support group to salvage survivors and repair Doom Bringer, inspection team data to my desk. Navigate the quickest route to Kessel sector for the task force, carry on.”

      Rham returned to his cabin and consulted the data feeds; the early pictures showed a peculiar round build which reminded him of something. ‘Ah, the only thing like that were those Droman buildings and seagoing ships, a mob of pack-rats but low tech and planet bound.’

      The data from the inspection team arrived, and the team described the occupants as AAAAA Humanoid male listed as pilot Mike Cox of Solterra and AAABA Humanoid listed as supernumerary Algertz of Grnatz. Cargo listed and verified as high-value perishable bulk and equipment, that is consistent with the load carried on small freighters.

       . . .

      The Yella sped through hyperspace dropping out at points occasionally to re-orientate for the next leg; emerging outside the Fwillsving system about a week later than originally planned. As the ship started the inward run, Humph announced two significant hyper pulses as military grade capital ships re-entered normal space from the direction of the Huy sector.

      “Good timing, an hour earlier they could have spotted us,” He announced, “I propose we do our deceleration on the far side of the gas giant then land on Fwillsving’s moon far side. We then use the shuttle to land at the spaceport and find Roxz.”

      By the time the Yella had rendezvoused with the moon, further hyper pulses had heralded the balance of the Imperial task force inbound. “Time to go now before they have the blockade formed,” Humph declared, “They will be looking for two humans, one blue and one white, I believe disguise is warranted.”

      “How about Wookys, no one in their right mind mucks around with them,” Killa suggested.

      “Where would you get the disguises there is nothing on the manifest or storage?” Algertz asked.

      “Perhaps you could demonstrate Humph?” Killa suggested.

      “Good

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